| Dancing is the expression of harmonious movement to | | | | ready to stop the song and repeat it as many times |
| music. Our range of expression is limited by our | | | | as you need. If you need help on how to hear the |
| physical ability to control our body movement as well | | | | beats in the music refer to our tip with that headline - |
| as our understanding of music and possibilities of | | | | you can find our previous tips on our facebook page |
| expressions. | | | | "BallroomDance101.com", or we can we can email you |
| When we learn a pattern in a dance, we learn a | | | | a copy if you let us know you want one. |
| particular rhythm that allows us to express ourselves | | | | Start the song and begin counting the Measures, e.g. |
| to the music in a basic manner. As our dancing | | | | 1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4, - 3,2,3,4 - etc.. |
| evolves we tend to add small variations to the musical | | | | - You will find an "Introduction" - usually 4 to 12 |
| interpretation of those patterns. Those changes in | | | | Measures |
| musical interpretation add color and flavor to your | | | | - You will then hear a change - the starting of a |
| dancing - making your dancing more fun and rewarding | | | | "Chorus" (you will identify some type of melody and |
| as well as more exciting to watch. We call this art of | | | | main instruments playing in the background) |
| music interpretation "Musicality". | | | | - Start counting the Measures again 1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4 etc., |
| Although musicality is in essence an internal and | | | | usually you will have 8 Measures for the first "Phrase" |
| emotional quality, we can learn a few basic options | | | | or sentence. Then it will start a new Phrase within the |
| that will allow us to increase the range of our musical | | | | same background and melody |
| interpretations. | | | | - Keep counting the measures; you will notice that |
| We have to start with the understanding that music | | | | (usually) after the fourth Phrase there will be an ending |
| has a very definite structure; without that structure you | | | | to that Chorus |
| will merely have noise. Musical structure is very similar | | | | - You will then hear a Bridge of four Measures and a |
| to written structure: | | | | new Chorus will start Repeat the same process until |
| - Words = "Measures" or Bars of Music - usually four | | | | the end of the song |
| Beats in each Measure | | | | - Remember, your song may have some variations to |
| - Sentences = "Phrases" - usually eight Measures in | | | | the above arrangement |
| each Phrase | | | | At the end of this exercise you will know exactly the |
| - Paragraph = "Chorus" - usually 4 Phrases in each | | | | musical structure of that song. |
| Chorus | | | | Now, the matching process starts. |
| - Sub-titles = "Bridges" - usually four Measures in each | | | | - Decide on the dance and patterns you would like to |
| Bridge | | | | do to that song |
| There are variations to this arrangement. Waltz for | | | | - Count the measures for each of the patterns |
| instance, has three beats per measure instead of four. | | | | - Start mixing the patterns so a new pattern starts |
| Bridges, sometimes can consist of 6 or twelve | | | | with each new Phrase |
| measures instead of four. | | | | - Try matching the style of patterns you put in a |
| Dance choreographers start by becoming familiar with | | | | Chorus to the background melody (high energy or |
| the arrangement of a song, and then include patterns | | | | mellow) if there are no strong distinctions between |
| in a way that best match the changes and style of | | | | patterns, try dancing them with different energy. |
| each musical segment. | | | | Congratulations - You are now a choreographer! |
| If you have never done any choreography or counted | | | | Like any art form, musicality in dancing, has both a |
| the measures in a song to discover its musical | | | | scientific side as well as an artistic side. The above |
| structure, we recommend you try. The process is fun | | | | exercise is basically a mechanical process. In the next |
| and enlightening. | | | | issue we'll be entering more into the artistic realm of |
| Start by picking a song that you can hear the beats | | | | musicality. |
| very clearly. Get a pencil and a piece of paper. Be | | | | |
